"They did say something along those lines, and I said, 'You guys are nuts. Why would I back out coming to the start/finish line when I think I can win?' " Smith said "If I'd have hit the brakes right there and purposely finished second, holy cow, I might as well just quit racing right now."

Going forward, the only judgment call NASCAR will have to make is who did what, because, on Monday afternoon, NASCAR president Mike Helton issued a statement clarifying the yellow-line rule. Henceforth, there will be no passing beneath the yellow line on any lap, including the last one.

"The gray area has been removed," said Poston, who added that, even if a driver is forced below the yellow line, he is not allowed to improve his position.

Too bad the rule and its interpretations weren't clear to Smith at the time. Had he backed out and finished second (or had NASCAR placed him second), he would have gained nine points in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, a bonanza that would have gone a long way toward locking up that important title.

Though the less-than-strict interpretation of the yellow-line rule in February 2007 may have been intended to give drivers latitude on the track, NASCAR should have learned a lesson from Sunday's race.

If a rule is violated, enforce it. Don't interpret it and muddy the waters.

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